The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Chapter 18: Lantern Festival

The sounds of burning firecrackers, setting off "firecrackers" and "double-kick firecrackers" could be heard everywhere, and colorful fireworks were falling from the sky not far away.

There were only a few old people, women and children setting off fireworks and firecrackers on the street at the entrance of the alley.

At this moment, two teams of soldiers appeared on both sides of the alley.

"Go in! Everyone, go inside!"

"The government has official business! Everyone is avoiding it!"

The old men and women were so frightened that they quickly carried their children inside and closed all the doors.

During this month and a half, Li Hu not only completed the reorganization and training of the South Camp, but also obtained fifty sets of armor.

In this era, purely in terms of protection, whether against cold weapons or hot weapons, traditional armor is definitely stronger than cloth armor.

At the east end of the alley, a team of soldiers from the South Camp wearing helmets and armor appeared. They ran a few steps and then squatted down along the wall.

At the west end of the alley, another team of soldiers from the Southern Camp wearing helmets and armor appeared. They also ran a few steps and squatted down along the wall.

The most commonly used combat configuration in the cold weapon era, with sword and shield soldiers in the front, crossbowmen in the middle, and spearmen in the rear.

Li Hu originally wanted to deploy musketeers, but unfortunately, no matter how much he talked, the prince refused to agree. Afterwards, Emperor Yongchang played a trick on him and said that he could reward a few craftsmen and let him make them himself.

Everyone's eyes were turned towards the courtyard where the lanterns in front of the door were flickering in the night wind.

Suddenly, earth-shaking firecrackers sounded at the entrance of the alley, and two teams of soldiers from the South Camp quickly rushed towards the Tatars' hideout outside the Great Wall.

Two sword and shield soldiers broke through the door directly. The moment they broke through the door, the sword and shield soldiers made way for the middle position. Four crossbowmen fired a wave of random shots to clear the area. The two Tatars who came rushing over after hearing the noise were shot to the ground.

Another team of soldiers from the South Camp rushed directly into the front yard and collided head-on with the Tartars who came from the backyard. All the soldiers from the South Camp were wearing armor, while these Tartars outside the Great Wall only had swords and no armor, so they were directly suppressed in terms of equipment.

The Tatars who were selected to sneak into the capital were not afraid of death. They raised their swords and killed the enemies with their bravery.

The sword and shield soldiers simply swung their swords diagonally to kill the Tatars who were in the front, the crossbowmen took turns shooting and killing the Tatars, and the spearmen were responsible for the support, and they cleaned out the Tatars quickly and efficiently.

Immediately afterwards, two teams of soldiers rushed into the backyard.

A Tartar jumped down from a tree and chopped down directly at the crossbowman. The sword and shield soldier next to him raised his shield to easily block the sword, but the next moment he was stabbed in the chest by two spearmen and died.

The soldiers used swords and shields to block, the crossbowmen attacked from a distance, and the spearmen were responsible for the main output. The soldiers from the South Camp behind them kept rushing in, each one wearing a helmet and armor. Their numbers far exceeded those of the Tatars outside the Great Wall, and they were completely crushing them.

A hearty massacre!

In fact, it didn't take long. The moment the door was broken, Li Hu walked into the alley. When he walked towards the backyard, the battle was over.

Jia Yun led a group of soldiers into the backyard and immediately dispersed to various places in the yard.

Li Hu walked in, stopped in the yard, glanced at the corpse on the ground, and nodded with satisfaction.

Jia Yun took the chair brought by the soldier and placed it behind Li Hu: "Please sit down, sir."

From the back room came the screams of women and children.

Li Hu sat down on the chair calmly.

A team officer called several soldiers to come in, dragging several bodies of women and children.

The team officer said: "Sir, the cleanup is complete."

Li Hu: "Search, don't miss any corner!"

The soldiers were divided into several groups, one group ran towards the main house, one group ran towards the kitchen and firewood room in the east, and one group ran towards the wing room in the west. The officer led his men back to the back room.

The blazing torches and bright lanterns lit up the huge backyard brighter than the Lantern Festival!

Teams of soldiers came towards Li Hu carrying boxes.

The first team of soldiers carried the first box to Li Hu and stopped.

An officer opened the lid of the box, and inside was fox and mink fur, shiny and sharp, obviously top-quality goods. The officer opened the lid of the second box, and inside was scrolls of calligraphy and paintings!
Li Hu picked up a scroll and looked at it. It was a painting of "Ladies in the Tang Palace". Another was a painting of "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" by Wang Ximeng. Another was a painting of "Auspicious Cranes" by Emperor Huizong of Song Dynasty. He unfolded the more than 20 scrolls of calligraphy and paintings, both long and short, in the box. All of them were works of famous artists and did not look like fakes.

After reading this, Li Hu's eyebrows slowly gathered. Why did the Tartar hide so many paintings and calligraphy in their hideout? To collect them? To present them to the Tartar nobles and the emperor? Or to bribe the Dashun officials?
He felt the last possibility was more likely.

The other boxes were also filled with valuables. Li Hu glanced at the bodies of the women and children again. It seemed that this was a very important stronghold.

At this time, a team officer hurriedly came towards Li Hu holding a box.

Walking up to him, the officer whispered, "Sir, we found it in the crack of the floor." Then he handed the box to Li Hu.

Li Hu opened the box, took out a collection of poems, read it, nodded, and put it in his arms. This was the Tatars' "code book". Then he took out a letter, read it, and saw that it was full of scribbles. It should be in Manchu, so he put it in his arms. He picked up a booklet and flipped through it. His eyes suddenly widened!

Conferring a title, Li Hu saw the title waving at him!

There is not a single word on it, just a series of simple maps. It is definitely the stronghold of the Tartars from outside the Great Wall in the capital.

He wiped out the intelligence network of the Tartars outside the Great Wall in the capital. With such a great contribution, no matter how shameless Emperor Yongchang is, he must reward him with a baron. A low-level noble is also a noble!
Even the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet has to respectfully address him as Lord Li.

The titles of dukes, marquises and earls of Dashun can be divided into two categories: hereditary and exiled.

Hereditary titles are a form of family inheritance, and descendants can inherit their parents' titles and enjoy corresponding privileges.

The title of exile is a temporary grant, valid only in this lifetime. If the corresponding merits are not accomplished during one's lifetime, the title will become invalid upon one's death.

As for the viscounts, barons, and low-ranking light cavalry captains, they are all dead.

Suddenly, there were sounds of swords being drawn and shouts coming from the front yard, followed by an extremely arrogant voice: "According to the laws of the court, killing the Jinyiwei of the Northern Pacification Division is a crime of conspiracy to rebel and the whole family will be exterminated! Get out of here!"

An officer ran in angrily: "Sir, the Jinyiwei are here, put your neck on the brothers' swords!"

Ok?
Li Hu narrowed his eyes. Are you so arrogant?

At this moment, a chaotic sound of footsteps came towards the backyard.

Then, a group of soldiers from the South Camp holding swords were forced to retreat into the backyard, and the general flag of the Northern Pacification Division and a group of Northern Pacification Division soldiers carrying swords strode in.

The general pretended to be surprised, "Hey, General Li." He folded his hands and said loudly: "Stop immediately, everyone put down what you are holding, the Northern Pacification Division has taken over here!"

After a short silence, there was a commotion everywhere.

Li Hu was stunned for a moment, then his face turned cold: "What do you mean by that?"

The general flag smiled and said, "General Li has just been promoted and does not know the rules of the upper echelons. All news about enemy spies must be reported to the Northern Pacification Office for handling. In addition, the Tartars here have long been under our strict surveillance and we are planning to close the net at midnight. General Li almost ruined the court's important event!"

Having said that, he looked at the booklet in Li Hu's hand.

Li Hu ignored him and scanned the faces of the soldiers in the South Camp one by one. He was very disappointed and it seemed that he had to make plans early.

The flag bearer held out his hand and said, "General Li."

Li Hu slowly looked at Jia Yun and said, "This house is under my control. No one is allowed to leave without my order!"

At this moment, the general flag pulled out three signals from the leather tube on his waist. The next moment, he flew out with a scream, and hit the corpse heavily, and a mouthful of blood spit out of his mouth.

Li Hu stepped on the Tartar's corpse and wiped it.

The Northern Pacification Division soldiers were shocked and drew their swords together.

"Protect the lord!" Jia Yun quickly drew out his knife and protected Li Hu.

Some soldiers surrounded the people from the Northern Pacification Office from all sides, while others ran to Li Hu and protected him.

Li Hu raised his hand and said, "Put away the knife." As he spoke, his two cold eyes slowly swept across the faces of the Northern Pacification Division's guards, and finally landed on the general flag: "Do you believe that if I kill all of you, the emperor will promote me?"

The general and his men's expressions changed drastically.

With a "humph", Li Hu turned around and strode out.

(End of this chapter)